Originally posted by Vad
You have mixed up different things. Killing civilians was always inherent part of any weaponed conflict. And sometimes very difficult to put an edge between military necessity and war crime. War is ugly thing, and intimidation actions are parts of any war, you know. Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well known examples.
Well, according to the trend of the last century, this is not completely true.
During the first WW, the civilian losses rate was in the 20-30% range or lower (dont have exact numbers), raised to 40-50% in WW2.
In modern wars, the rate is reverted, going near the 60-70% range.
This "killing civilians" stuff seems a new trend, if you dont consider the wars before and during the middle age.
Of course, theese numbers are considered for the populations living where the war is fought, or (modern) in bombers range.
